Dear Mufti Sahab, Asalam o Alaikum, I would like to start my business online it will give me revenue after 2-3 years. My friends are saying do not start any business now as time of appearing Imam Mahdi is very near & after it every thing will be vanished & we need to do Jihad. I would like to know either i should start my own business or not?. Currently i am doing job & having no issue for money. My personal intention to do Business are following 1) I am free to do any religious work at any time while doing job it is not possible. 2) Most jobs have mix gathering of men & women so in my own business this will not the case. Regards, Asalam-u-Alaikum

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Allaah permitted lawful earnings and permitted trading in what is lawful but Allaah did not restrict it to a specific time or situation except what is mentioned in the Sharee’ah, like the forbiddance of selling after the second Athaan of the Friday prayer has been called and the like; Allaah Says (what means): {But Allaah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest.} [Quran 2:275] Allaah also Says (what means): {And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allaah, and remember Allaah often that you may succeed.} [Quran 62:10]

So, what evidence do those - who prohibit working in trade when the Mahdi appears - have to back their claim? Also, who forbade buying and selling when there is Jihaad (fighting in the Cause of Allaah)? Where are such rulings in any Quranic verse or any Hadeeth? Those who say such things should be careful as this is speaking about Allaah without knowledge [and this is very serious]. Allaah Says (what means): {Say, “My Lord has only forbidden immoralities — what is apparent of them and what is concealed — and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allaah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allaah that which you do not know.”} [Quran 7:33]

Moreover, Anas narrated that the Prophet said: ''If the Hour (Day of Judgment) comes while one of you holds a palm seedling in his hand and he can cultivate it before it comes, then let him do so.” [Ahmad – Al-Albaani classified it as Saheeh (sound)]
Al-Munaawi said: “This means that one is ordered to cultivate for whoever would come later even if the signs of the Hour have appeared and what remains of this world is very little.” For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 10277 and 82108.

Therefore, it is permissible to do what you intend to do, but we warn you that trading on the Internet may include some prohibitions and disadvantages, so you should ask the scholars before doing anything so that you would not consume ill-gotten money without knowing it.

Allaah Knows best.